Florida Pitcher Looks Forward to Return

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, June 28, 2003

Florida Marlins pitcher Kevin Olsen, injured when he was hit in the head by a line drive, is looking forward to returning to the mound.

Olsen spent one night in the hospital and was released Saturday and put on the 15-day disabled list with a concussion. He was hit in the right ear by Todd Walker's liner in Friday's 25-8 loss at Boston.

"My number one goal is to get healthy," Olsen said. "This won't change my mental approach to the game. I plan to pitch like I always have."

Olsen needed six stitches for a cut that opened when he was struck by Walker's hit. The right-hander lay nearly motionless on the mound for nine minutes, moving his legs and blinking his eyes before being immobilized and carted off the field on a stretcher.

"When I hit the ground my thought was to stay awake _ not to shut my eyes," he said after the Marlins' 11-7 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday. "The trainers and everybody did a great job getting me into the ambulance."

Right-hander Nate Bump was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to take Olsen's spot on the roster Saturday.

The 26-year-old Olsen, in his third season with the Marlins, was hit as he followed through on his delivery. The ball bounced toward Florida's third-base dugout, and Walker wound up with a double.

"I don't remember seeing the ball," he said. "I saw the film. I reacted at the very end, so I must have seen it real late _ just enough time to flinch my head out of the way. It was a glancing blow off my right ear."

Trainers from both teams rushed to the mound and players in both dugouts stood or sat silently, some appearing to pray.

Olsen has an 11.17 ERA in 9 2-3 innings for Florida this season. He does not have a decision in four appearances.

He's received calls from many, including Walker.

"I've gotten a lot of support form the baseball community," he said.

The injury was reminiscent of a line drive hit by Ryan Thompson of the New York Yankees that struck Red Sox right-hander Bryce Florie in the eye on Sept. 8, 2001.

Florie sustained serious eye damage and attempted a comeback with Boston. He was later released and is out of the majors.